Are you tired of those old, inefficient methods of praying, like “saying a prayer out loud” or “lighting a candle”? Then the Prayer Machine is for you!
When I finally tore myself away from the mechanical offertory, I stumbled into more generosity of Chiang Mai. Apparently it was festival day at Wat Phra Singh.
If there’s one thing Chiang Mai has no shortage of, it’s temples. Here are some highlights from my explorations.
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- Wat Phra Singh
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- The venerated Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha, actually made of jade or quartz) I saw back in Bangkok originally lived here. Now they’ve got a jade replica.
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- Creepy fake monks flank the jade Buddha
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- Sections of Chiang Mai’s city wall remain intact on the edges of the old city
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- Just cruising around town, dodging cars and motorbikes, you can spot little gems like this elephant bridge ornament
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- The brakes barely worked, Karen’s chain kept slipping… but hey, whaddya expect for 2 bucks a day?
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- Even wats are under construction sometimes, like Wat Phan Tao.
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- Money doesn’t grow on trees. It grows on the ceilings of Buddhist temples.
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- Wat Chedi Luang
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- Wat Chedi Luang’s Buddha
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- These “junior guides” practiced their English on me by sharing the details of a historic well next to Wat Phra Singh. Their English was basic (but way better than my Thai). I’m not sure I believe the one on the right is named Smith.
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- Fat, happy Buddha
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- Wat Chedi Luang’s chedi ruins by day…
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- … and night
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- Wat Chedi Luang’s reclining Buddha is like all the others, except he has his gold hit records displayed on the wall
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- Buddha lords it over Wat Chedi Luang
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- Wat Lok Molee
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- Wat Lok Molee’s fancy prayer machine
